Ancient Evil

Chapter Three

It took Magnus a couple of minutes to get his wits about him but once he did he was in awe of what was on display. With the exception of the place where he had landed the ground was composed of boiling lava in all directions. In the air magma colored Korbats flew around but none were close enough for him to speak to.

For fear of getting lost, Magnus sat down on the hardened magma beneath him and hoped for one of the natives to notice his presence. For several minutes he puzzled over what he was supposed to do as he started to realize that the Korbat's were keeping away from him for a reason.

It wasn't until a rising bubble from the lava nearly splashed his face, and he scooted himself backwards in response, that he noticed a faint engraving: Welcome Seasoned Warrior. Also the magma was pointed in the direction in front of him.

"Some aid at last..." Magnus told himself with a relieved sigh as he rose to his feet and started flying in the way indicated, slowly and carefully, keeping his eyes open for any more guidance. He didn't notice any signs immediately but he was made aware of something else as he entered a very narrow tunnel: his path was becoming very, very familiar.

His suspicions were confirmed as the lava ahead of him was firing upwards in geyser-like patterns and the ceiling started to rumble. As Magnus was forced to dodge falling boulder after falling boulder he couldn't help but think of his distant cousin Glubgar. He had narrowly survived a similar, harrowing experience while exploring a cave within the Tyrannian Volcano.

He soon he came to the end of the tunnel but was disappointed to see that it was a dead end. The exit was sealed up with an air tight pile made of the same boulders he'd been avoiding for the last few minutes. Inhaling with all his might, Magnus blew a stream of flame at the obstruction in an attempt to clear a path but the heated blast barely scorched the massive rocks. A flurry of punches and kicks added in response only served to slightly injure his paws and feet.

"Shoot...another puzzle to solve." Magnus said scratching his hairy chin.

The only hint at what to do came from inside: a faint connection with the lava that popped and sizzled at his feet. The Guardian of Flame Magic had said that it would share a portion of its full power with him for the duration of the test. Perhaps he could use it to manipulate the steaming river of molten rock into destroying the barrier blocking his way.

Magnus closed his eyes and focused as best he could. In his mind he tried to picture a stream of liquid flame swirling around his arms and hands like roaring dragons ready to strike. Sure enough, when he opened his eyes, that's exactly what he had produced and not from the river below. The power came from within himself.

"So this is what it means to be a NeoGuardian? All my life I've been able to create fire but have lacked the ability to manipulate and control it." Magnus thought as he reared back and sent both armfulls of lava speeding toward the wall of boulders in front of him. With a crash the earthly dam burst and he was instantly showered with blinding light and the image of the Guardian of Flame Magic covering the now cleared tunnel.

"Well done, Magnus the Torch. However this is not the end of your test but merely the beginning. You may know the means to control the power you have now but it pales in comparison to what you will need to bear my full essence. Continue on and seek the answer to this in a place which opposes your magic at every turn..."

Meanwhile at the Guardian Temple...

Just over an hour had passed since Magnus the Torch had been sucked into the Guardian of Flame Magic and his friends were getting impatient. The only exception was Princess Fernypoo who was leaning on a wall in the distance in what seemed to be a near catatonic trance. At first they had thought that she had merely walked over there to catch a quick nap but, seeing her lips quiver with restrained fear and her forehead drip with sweat, they now watched with concerned faces.

"Shouldn't one of us walk over there and nudge her awake?" Hannah asked as Jeran looked at her and shook his head.

"It'd be like trying to halt a sleepwalker. As terrible as the visions must be that she is viewing in her mind there is a purpose for them and we are not in a position to cut them off."

Hannah nodded with extreme reluctance as Prince Jazan and Magax sparred on the other side of the enclosure. Jeran had started to stand up to join them but had thought better of it considering his altercation with them earlier: he still wasn't comfortable with their presence in the group.

He didn't have long to dwell on it, however, as Princess Fernypoo suddenly fell to her knees and started to whimper. Clawing at the loose soil, she screamed silently before passing out with a thud. Hannah instinctively pushed Jeran hard and ran to where Fernypoo lay unmoving.

Rubbing her back and shoulders Hannah tried to stir the royal Acara as Jeran came over and checked for a pulse and whether she was breathing. Seeing that both were positive he reluctantly yelled for Jazan and Magax who immediately obeyed his order. Fernypoo finally opened her eyes minutes later and rose to her feet.

"Are you alright?" Hannah said with concern as Fernypoo staggered forward with a glazed look in her eyes. She wanted to help her friend but Jeran held her back and shook his head. Hannah tried to shove him away but Jeran insisted on barring her progress.

"You don't know what is going on with her. She can take care of herself." he stated with authority as Hannah glared at the Meridell knight.

"And you do? She almost died just now!"

"Be quiet, both of you!" Fernypoo growled as she recovered herself. "Haunting visions hold no power to kill. However they do hold information and what I just saw was just that: a glimpse into the plans of our enemy. He seeks to strike my mind from the grave but all he has done is give away a portion of his strategy upon his rebirth."

Jazan and Magax helped Fernypoo steady herself as she moved past Hannah and Jeran and gazed at the Guardian of Fire Magic.

"How long has Magnus been gone?" she asked as Hannah informed her. "Then he has passed through the first crucible with ease. Only two more to go..."

Back inside the Guardian of Flame Magic...

Within moments Magnus realized exactly what the Guardian had meant as he stepped into a world of snow, ice, and freezing wind not unlike Terror Mountain. The harsh breezes quickly cut into his skin and he had to focus the heat in his body just to keep his extremities warm.

Moving forward he headed blindly for what looked to be a hill of some sort. If he could get behind it then he would at least have some protection until he could figure out what to do next. It took him several minutes to arrive at the snow covered bunker but, as he put his hand on it to steady himself he realized that what he was touching wasn't earthen at all...it was made of fur and skin.

"ROOOOOAR!"

Magnus immediately backpedaled as the yeti-like creature he had inadvertently made contact with charged at full speed towards him. It was all he could do to roll to one side and get to his feet despite the slippery ice underneath him. Hoping to avoid the beast's next attempt at his life he focused his magical powers and fired a pair of molten blasts aimed squarely at his muscular chest. To his deadpan surprise, however, his attack had barely slowed his foe down.

"Is that the best you can do?" the yeti taunted Magnus as he shook off ember after dying ember from his thick, furry coat. "You cannot harm me with your powers!"

Magnus was given little room for rebuttal as he was forced to dodge a swipe of the creatures arm before attempting to fly away from his enemy to regroup. The plan was quickly thwarted, however, by the freezing wind that tore into his wings with deadly ferocity. Now grounded and weary, Magnus focused again on producing any kind of fire whatsoever as the icy beast stomped rapidly toward him.

"Think wannabe NeoGuardian!" Magnus said to himself as he looked at the sheet of ice in-between him and his charging opponent. With a fit of inspiration Magnus touched the beginning part of the frozen expanse and used the little bit of power he had left to warm it. Within seconds of the creature reaching it himself the ice gave way and revealed the chilling water below.

Magnus started to turn away in victory but, as he heard and then saw the beast thrash furiously, he realized that it would drown if he didn't act. However he also worried for his own life. Quickly throwing caution to the wind despite his misgivings Magnus reached out his hand and found it gladly received by the now calm and peaceful yeti. Upon standing on firmer ground the furry monster instantly transformed into the same image of the Guardian of Flame Magic he'd met after his first trial.

"You have passed all three tests, Magnus the Torch. You have learned to control the power of flame within you and also possess the intellect and moral fiber to use it wisely. Now receive my essence and return to your companions. You still have much to learn before the evil wizard rises once more." the Guardian said with a booming voice as Magnus found himself thrust back into the temple where Hannah and the others sat waiting...